TRAUMATISED pupils were left in tears yesterday after parents were BANNED from entering a school's grounds to say goodbye - due to ‘health and safety reasons’.

On his first day as the newly-appointed head of Forster Park Primary School in Catford, south London, Mark Gale sent a letter to parents to request that they say their goodbyes outside of the school gates.

Mr Gale wrote: "From tomorrow morning we are asking for parents not to enter the playground and to say goodbye to their children at the school gate.

"This is for health and safety reasons.”

This included reception classes where children as young as four had to be dragged from their parents side.

The kids are used to their mums taking them in and kissing them goodbye so today was heartbreaking not being able to do that.

Michala Cohen

Angry Michala Cohen, 23, whose five-year-old daughter Tymisha attends the school, said her child was in tears at the gates.

She said: "My daughter would not leave my side and was really upset. Lots of the other kids were hysterical as well.

"Normally she's a really happy girl and actually skips into school but she wasn't comfortable with this whatsoever.

"The kids are used to their mums taking them in and kissing them goodbye so today was heartbreaking not being able to do that."

Miss Cohen, a business studies student, also said the rule will damage the staff-parent relationship.

Kids have been left in tears after they weren't able to say goodbye to their parents [GETTY: POSED BY MODEL]

She added: "We want to take action but the senior head teacher is acting so blasé about the whole thing and is refusing to speak to us as a group.

"The head will only speak to us individually."

The mother-of-one also described the rule as "contradictory" claiming there is a 2ft fence and a side gate often left open that could grant anyone access to the school.

Mr Gale explained: "In view of the ongoing extensive building works inside and outside the school.

"We reviewed the arrangements for dropping pupils off in the mornings and introduced changes to ensure a smoother start to the day for them.

"All decisions are made in the best interests of pupils and we will be monitoring these new arrangements over the next few weeks.

"In the meantime, I am happy to discuss them in more detail with parents and carers should they wish it."

Mr Gale added that parents were still able to visit the school office as normal and the arrangement for collecting children at the end of the day remained unchanged, meaning parents could enter the playground to pick up their kids.

Mr Gale's letter continued: "We know that this is a big change, but we know that you will work with us to ensure that the start of the school day is even better than it is already.

Health and safety fears have also put a dampener on pupils' birthday celebrations at the school, with a ban on birthday cakes being enforced.

Mr Gale explained: "Due to allergies I am afraid that we cannot give out birthday cake, party bags or anything else on birthdays.

"However, we will do everything we can to make sure that your child's birthday is acknowledged and that they have an especially enjoyable day.

He added: "I appreciate that these are quite big changes, but as ever, we are putting the children and their safety first."